Wean off breastfeeding in 2 weeks!

[SunshineSophia]

Hello, long time lurker but first time thread starter.

My 12mo DD is due to start nursery in two weeks but I haven't yet weaned her off breastmilk. She currently has four milk feeds a day - one when she wakes up, one before each of her naps (she has two) and a final feed before bed time. DD is sleep trained so is happy for me to put her in her cot while she's awake.

My worry is her first nap of the day - it's usually around 8.30/9am and she always has milk just before I put her down. She will be at nursery for this first nap (it's a 'home from home' environment where they reflect the child's usual home routine so I'm assuming they will stick to her two nap routine).

I know I've left it super late but how can I wean DD off breastmilk in time for her to start nursery?

I considered possibly completely refusing to give her the breast for that first nap but continuing with the other milk feeds? Tbh if there are any other alternative suggestions as to how I can handle the breastfeeding / nap issue I'd be most grateful.

If it helps, DD has just had her 12mo vaccinations and her 7s and 8s are slowly but surely pushing through. She's hideously cranky and likes the comfort of the breast, which complicates matters.

Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you

My DS started nursery just as he turned 1 and he still fed 4 or 5 times a day, i was so worried about how he’d go to sleep but he was absolutely fine without me there! I was so surprised. It took a couple of weeks for him to settle but he just found his own way of getting to sleep with the nursery team - they see this all the time so they know what to try. He still fed before nursery and as soon as he got home but if i wasn’t around he very quickly didn’t seem to care too much.

My tip would maybe be to make sure she’s spent time without you, hard in covid times but if you can go out for a morning and leave her with someone else and see how she copes.

Good luck and hopefully she will just adapt!

Thank you so much @newatbabystuff that's really reassuring to hear!

And that's a good suggestion about leaving her - I've been trying to leave her with my in-laws for longer and longer periods - she can be happy as Larry with them but as soon as she sees me she shrieks until I'm holding her which is exhausting

My DD2 started nursery at 10 months. I breast fed first thing, when I got home and just before bed. I let the nursery offer formula during the day but she never took it. She upped her food intake during the day and was absolutely fine.

Thank you @OpposableThumbs2 that's so helpful to know. I think I need to have a word with my nursery and get their view. I don't really want to take away the boob when DD is quite clearly going through a lot with her teething and the vaccinations.

Thank you both for your insight!